NowNS: Beer and business for the people

Saltbox 1 (1 of 8)

Patrick Jardine and Andrew Tanner, co-founders of Saltbox Brewing, pose for a photo in front of their new microbrewery in Mahone Bay (NS). Saltbox, across from the NSLC store, is being built on a a former service station site at 363 Main St., corner of Clearway. Saltbox is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

Saltbox 2 (2 of 8)

Founding partners Patrick Jardine (left) and Andrew Tanner pose for a photo in front of their soon-to-be-open microbrewery on Main St. in Mahone Bay (NS). Saltbox, located across from the NSLC store, is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

Saltbox 3 (3 of 8)

Saltbox Brewery founding partners Patrick Jardine (left) and Andrew Tanner walk threw their soon-to-be-open microbrewery on Main St. in Mahone Bay (NS). Saltbox, located across from the NSLC store, is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

Saltbox 4 (4 of 8)

Saltbox Brewery is located in a former service station at 363 Main St., corner of Clearway in Mahone Bay (NS). Saltbox, located across from the NSLC store, is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

Saltbox 5 (5 of 8)

Saltbox brewmaster Jeremy Fehr poses for a photo inside the soon-to-be-open microbrewery located at 363 Main St. in Mahone Bay. Saltbox, located across from the NSLC store, is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

Saltbox 6 (6 of 8)

Saltbox brewmaster Jeremy Fehr inspects the beer vats for the soon-to-be-open microbrewery on Main St. in Mahone Bay. Saltbox, located across from the NSLC store, is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

Saltbox 7 (7 of 8)

Saltbox Brewery founding partners pose for a photo in front of their soon-to-be-open microbrewery on Main St. in Mahone Bay. From left to right, Jane McLoughlin , Patrick Jardine, Andrew Tanner and George Anderson. Saltbox, is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

Saltbox 8 (8 of 8)

Founding partners Patrick Jardine (left) and Andrew Tanner pose for a photo in front of their soon-to-be-open microbrewery on Main St. in Mahone Bay. Saltbox is slated to open on Sat., Sept. 17. (STAFF)

An epic opening

Opening a new business is never easy, but imagine launching just seven days before 10,000 people flood your small town for one of the biggest events of the year.

Hard at work inside the old garage at the corner of Main St. and Clearway St., operations manager and co-founder Patrick Jardine says the tap room is nearly complete. One huge door opens into the production area and another leads into the tap room — with a windows separating the spaces so you can watch the brewing process while sipping a pint.

“People are already walking by and cheering us on, or telling us that we need to open sooner,” says Jardine. “There’s a lot of excitement in the neighbourhood — and a lot of pride about having locally-made beer.”

Going for it

It all started back in October when Jardine, Andrew Tanner, George Anderson and Jane McLoughlin got together to discuss the idea of a Mahone Bay brewery. After a couple of meetings, they went hands in — “Let’s go for it!” Tanner recalls someone saying — and agreed to a partnership.

What began as a small local spot to brew beer quickly evolved into a larger community project that would include a tap room and retail space — which will sell growlers and grunters as well as Saltbox Brewing Company merchandise.

Tanner says their slogan, “Made by people you can talk to,” connects to their namesake: the iconic Maritime architecture of the saltbox house. Craft brewing is experiencing an unprecedented resurgence that he says is similar to the days when everyone made beer at home, just like they’d bake their own bread. Saltbox homes had a signature sloping gable roof that allowed owners to add a small brewing room.

“One thing we liked about the saltbox concept is that it’s a style of house, and we wanted people to feel like we’re inviting them into our house — just drinking a pint and having a conversation,” says Tanner.

Community support

As the team is in what he calls “final prep mode” — rushing around doing finishing touches — Tanner says he’s been touched by the support of so many Mahone Bay residents.

“Folks in the community have offered to help us any way they can, and once we settle in we’ll be hiring full-time staffers. We’ve already had resumes pouring in,” says Tanner. “Everyone is really excited.”

The community has already been playing an important role. Saltbox organized a Pioneer’s Beer Club where 150 members paid $40 to join (with an annual renewal fee of $10) to gain early access to new batches as well as invitations to tastings and educational seminars.

Membership quickly sold out, and Tanner says the feedback they’ve provided on their brews — a dark cream ale, an IPA, a light golden cream ale, a chocolate stout, a Scottish ale and a hefeweizen (wheat beer) — has been invaluable.

“We’re still trying to define how many core beers we’ll offer on a regular basis — whether it’s three or five — and what types those will be,” says Tanner. “We hope, long-term, to have five or six standard beers and then seasonals.”

Tanner says they’ve already gotten “a tremendous response” from local pubs who are happy to carry their beer, but the business is going to expand beyond on-tap opportunities. Premier Stephen McNeil came in for a brief visit recently and the Saltbox team had a chance to discuss the potential spin-off business.

“We can have family farms growing hops, barley and grain. We’re sourcing our bottles and glassware locally, and we have a young lady making soap for us using our IPA,” says Tanner. “We’re doing our best to source locally wherever we can, and we want everyone to realize how deep this can actually go.”

Locally sourced

They’re expecting an order of local hops around Labour Day and hope to partner with Horton Ridge Malt & Grain in Hortonville. Haskap and honey are two other local ingredients they’d like to incorporate.

Jardine says they’re proud to be keeping local youth employed at home in Mahone Bay. His construction team is made up of hardy young locals and he’s been bringing in area experts to help with the finer details.

Saltbox Brewing Company’s beautiful windows were created by Langille’s Carpenter Shop in Barss Corner, with glazing done by local Paul Hughes. Steve’s Ironworks in Maitland made the huge fireproof separation and Amos Wood in Blockhouse crafted the gorgeous Douglas fir tables.

“Everyone’s local and we’re trying to promote them, so hopefully they’ll do the same for us,” says Jardine.

Three of the four founders live in Mahone Bay (Tanner’s in Bridgewater) and Jardine has been leading the construction process full-time, while Tanner, Anderson and McLoughlin have been working on the business and juggling other jobs.

Tanner says Mahone Bay is changing as more young families move to the area, and it’s lending “a whole new social aspect” to the area.

“A lot of people are perhaps tired of the city so they’re coming to Mahone Bay for a different kind of excitement,” says Tanner. “Everyone in town has been talking about us, which is great — it’s just making us a bit nervous!”

While Saltbox isn’t serving food in the taproom — at least so far — it’s partnering with different food trucks, like Lobster Jos. Jardine says he’s looking forward to welcoming their customers, as well as the thousands of tourists descending on Mahone Bay for the Scarecrow Festival & Antique Fair.